Assig-itob



July 31, 1192s.

R R. STEVENSON DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed Sept. 20, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet i July 31,1928. 1,679,184

R. R. STEVENSON DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed Sept. 20, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i ;2 yr j 5% :ill

Patented July 31, 1928.

human STATES 1,67ttl84 PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E, STEVENSON, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AMJ'IGNOE TO ELYEGTBL CAL DEVELOPMENT & MACHINE COMIAN'Y, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DISCONNECTING SWI'IGH.

Application filed September My invention relates to disconnecting switches for outdoor or indooruse which are used generally to disconnect at the same time a plurality of conductors of an electric system to break the circuit or permit safe operation upon the lines.

The main purpose of my invention is to protect the switch contacts by a hood or cover which is so held at all times as to shield its interior and the movable switch contact members from snow, sleet, rain, dirt, acid or other matter.

A further purpose is to carry the projecting cover for a disconnecting switch and preterably the contact members within it upon an adjoininglink of a grasshoppcr-type operating mechanism for the switch.

Further purposes will appear in the specilication and in the claims.

1 have preferred to illustrate my invention by one term only among various forms in which the invention may be shown, selccting a type which is practical, el'licient and thoroughly reliable and which at the same time well illustrates the principles of my invention. I

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of my switch in closed position.

Figure 2 is a section corresponding to Figure. 1 but with the parts in open position.

Figure 3 is a partial sectioned elevation taken upon line 8-3 of: Figure 1.

Figure t is a partial sectioned elevation taken upon line l4 of Figure 1. t

Figure 5 is a section taken upon line 5-5 of Figure 6, showing the switch contact members in enlarged form.

Figure 6 is a section taken upon line 6-6 of: Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the structure' seen in Figure 5.

Describing the form illustrated in explanation and not in limitation My invention belongs to what is known as the grasshopper type of disconnecting switches, in which each of the phases of the circuit connected and disconnected led in to a distinct fixed insulator on one side of the switch and led out from a corresponding distinct insulator on the other side. Such insulators are shown at 10. 11 as mounted upon a base 12 by pins 13 14:. The insulator caps 15. 16 carry the terminalbloclts 17, 18 for the phase.

20, 1923. Serial No. 663,767.

The base also carries like but movable insulators 19 for each phase which insulators are mounted upon a swinging pin 20 connected to and turning with a shatt 21 common to all of the phases; for the purpose of effecting connection and disconnection of the circuit or circuits when the shaft is rotated.

The swinging pins 20 are connected with the shaft in any convenient way and the shaft is supported in any bearings 22.

The bases are used as a matter of convenience. They are shown as channels and as united across the ends by angles 23.

It is common in these devices to have'the shaft 21 operated through a rod 24 and a. lever arm 25upon the shaft from suitable lever mechanism not shown, usually adapted to throw circumferentially beyond its dead center so as to lock in thrown position, and in open and closed positions the movable insulators lie on the open and closed sides. respectively, of the shaft so that the weinht of 1nsulators and moving parts will tend to hold the switch parts in the position to which they have been thrown.

I have illustrated my switch as of threephase type but it may obviously be applied to the disconnection of a single line or to as many lines of different phase or of different circuits as may be desired.

In addition to the terminal blocks 17, insulator caps 15 carry are horns 26 and switch contact blades 27, both electrically connected with the blocks. The blades are adapted to cooperate with movable contact devices shown generically at 28. The side surfaces of the blades 27 are finished and the directions of the lengths of the blades are sub stantially tangential to the arcs of opening movement of the movable contact devices.

The insulator caps 16 carry in addition to terminal blocks 18, mounts 29 for link pivots 30. These mounts may serve also for attachment of flexible conductors 31 by which connections are made from the terminal blocks 18 to the contact devices. The conductors are electrically connect-ed with the terminal blocks.

In order to throw the movable contact (lo-- vices and to maintain connection between them and the terminal blocks 18 ll use "asshopper constructions. one for each conductor, comprising arms 82 and pairs of links 33 pivoted together, an arm to a pair of hood. posts 36 by'fastenings l4 passing through "al union with their respective arms 32.

These posts are parts of the arms andare made separate from the arms and joined to them by fastenings 37 for convenience in manufacture only.

The posts are preferably nearly radial with respect to the shaft 21 when the members are in closed position so that the travel of the movable contact devices during the initial opening movement is nearly tangential to the arcs of movement. The contact devices are shown as mounted upon the posts 36. I

The contact devices are covered by hoods 38 which are open at 39 to permit movement of the contact devices and hoods into and away. from the positions shown in Figure 1. i

The arms 32 carry plates eO which form the bottoms of the hoods. The tops l1, sides 42-and rear ends 43 of the hoods are shown for convenience in manufacture as separate from the bottoms and in one piece for each They are fastened to the ends of the bosses 45 on the tops of the hood. The sides also are fastened to the bottoms by fastenings 4C6.

At all times the openings 39 of the hoods are downwardly directed so that the hoods may protect the movable contact devices from rain, sleet, snow, dirt, acid, orother matter which would otherwise be free to fall or to be driven into the hoods.

The flexible connections 31 are electrically joined with the arms 32 by means of lugs 4L fastened. to the. arms as at 48 and to which lugs the flexible connections 31 are secured by washcrfplatcs 49 and fastenings 50.

The spacing of the flexible connections from the arms 32 or the'shapes of the ends of'the arms'are advantageously such as to give easy curves to the flexible connections as at 51 when the switch .parts are in disconnected position, reducing the length otherwise required for the fleitible connections and maintaining them in predetermined most desirable curvature during use.

Similarly the other ends of the flexible connections are secured to the mounts 29 or other suitable support by washerplates 49 and fastenings 50, the mounts and plates being suitably curved if required to give suitable room for bending and to guide the bends of the connections.

The construction of the switch contact devic s. and mounts there or from the arms 32, are obviously open to wide variation providinrr the parts to be presented forproper connection with the switch blade and I have shown a detail of one form of construction of these switch finger contact constructions for the I'MISOH'OIllY that I wish to show a complete and desirable construction. The same reason has led to my illustration of the particular mounting shown for the flexible electrical connection 36 and for the post and arm comprising two parts separately cut on account of economy in construction and fastened together by bolts or rivets.

* In the construction of the switch contact devices 28 illustrated, the sides of the posts are held in good electrical contact with llexi ble conductors 53 which are COIUHCtQd clcctrically at their other ends with contact shoes-54, the connection being made at each end by fastenings 55. The shoes are pressed to. their duty by springs 56. here shown as comprising, each, a plurality of individual spring elements which rest upon wear plates 57 at one end and are spaced from the conductors-by spacers 58 at the other. Spring steel strips 59 flan]: the con ductor strips and take the thrust of the shoes.

As a. result of the construction shown the contact plates or shoes are at all times in excellent electrical contact with the terminal blocks 18.

By mounting the hood 38 upon the arm 32 whether the contact devices be mounted upon this arm or upon the cap of the movable insulator, the hood is maintained in prohictive position. opening at a downward slant at all times and. protecting the interior of the hood and the contact devices or elements con tainod therein from the weather or other injury to a high degree; and by mounting the contact devices within the hood as well as the hood upon the arm the hood need be large enough only for the contact devices and need not give room within the hood for movement between the devices and the hood.

lVhile I refer to contact devices within the hood obviously the parts might he revcrsed if it were desired to use the knife in this position or a single contact device might be used in each of the switch positions.

There is little preference whether the arm 32 shall carry the arcing horn 6O intended to cooperate with the horn 26 or this horn shall be supported to swing directly with the insulator 19. In the illustration I have selected the former construction and mount the horn within a bracket (31 cast upon one of the sides 37 of the hood.

It will be obvious that the type of support upon which the insulators are mounted. the form of insulators used. the character of operating mechanism for throwing the insulator, the type of contact devices enrploycd. the character of arcing horn selected and other such details having to do vith the in dividual elements illustrated by me are not ltlh material to this invention except in so far as the detail of their character may be specilied in the claims, but that my invention relates prin'iarilyto the hood, to the mounting of the'hood to turn with respect to the movable insulator and in. some of the claims to the mounting of whatever contact devices are selected so as also to turn with respect to the insulator.

It will be obvious also that, in view of my disclosure herein, changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art who desire tosecure all or a part of the benefit of my invention without copying it and it is my purpose to include herein all such changes and modifications as come within the reasonablespirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- 1 ters Patent is 1. In a disconnecting switch, a pair of fixed insulators, a pair of terminals mounted on the insulators, a knit switch contact electrically connected to one terminal, a movable insulator, a pivot about which it moves, a pin connecting the insulator and pivot, means for throwing the pin, a link and arm pivotally connected at one end of each to each other and at their other ends pivotally connected with the second terminal and movable insulator respectively and contact devices carried by the armto engage with the knits switch elements and wiping into contact by movement generally corresponding to the are of travel of the movable insulator connected with the second terminal and movable insulator respectively, a protective hood having a downwardly directed opening and carriedby said arm and switch contact devices within the hood engaging with the knife switch contact and wiping into contact by movement generally corresponding to the arc of travel of the movable insulator and about the pivot ot the movable insulator.

3. In a disconnecting switch, a pair of insulated terminals, an insulated member between the terminals mounted to swing toward and from each terminal, a switch mem ber mounted upon one oil? the terminals, a hood mounted upon and to swing with respect to theswinging insulator, connections controlling the swinging movement of the hood and switch contacts within the hood electrically connected with the other terminal, adapted to engage the switch member and wiping into contact by movement generally corresponding to the are of travel of the insulated member, and about the mount of the swinging insulated member.

4i. In a disconnecting switch, a pair of fixed insulators, terminals thereon, a switch member and an arcing horn mounted upon one of the terminals, a swinging insulator between the terminals movable toward and from each of them, an arcing horn insulated thereby and adapted to co-operate with the first arcing horn, an arm mounted upon the swinging insulator, a link controlling the movement of the arm and connected with the second terminal, a hood carried by the arm to turn with respect to the swinging insulator and having a downwardly directed opening, contact devices within the hood engaging the switch member by movement along an arc corresponding generally to that of movement of the swinging insulator and movable about the pivot of the swinging in sulator and electrical connections between the relatively movable parts to connect the contact devices with the second terminal.

5. In a disconnecting switch, a pair of insulated terminals, a contact device mounted upon one of the terminals, a cooperating contact device in electrical connection with the second terminal, an insulated operating mechanism for moving the second contact device, including an arm rigid with the second contact device, a link connecting with the arm pivotally and pivoted with respect to the second terminal and a swinging insulator giving final movement to the second contact substantially the same as the movement of the insulator, connections whereby the second contact device in its movement rocks with respect to the insulated operated means and a hood adapted to protect both contact devices when they are in connected position.

6. In a disconnecting switch, a pair oi? insulated terminals, a switch contact carried by one of the terminals, a pivoted insulator, means for throwing the insulator about its pivot, a current-carrying arm supported by the insulator at one point, a link pivoted to the current-carrying arm at one end and at its other end pivoted with respect to the second terminal, a flexible current-carrying connection from the currentcarrying arm to the second connection and a contact device carr-ied by the arm, adapted to cooperate with the first named contact device and having final movement substantially the same. as that of the insulator.

7. In a disconnecting switch, a pair of insulated terminals, a switch contact carried by one of the terminals, :1 pivoted insulator, means for throwing the insulator about its pivot, a current-carrying arm supported by the insulator at one point, a link pivoted to the current-carrying arm at one end and at its other end pivoted with respect to the secend terminal, a flexible current-carrying connection from the current-carrying arm to the second terminal, a contact device carried by the arm, adapted to'cooperate with the first named contact device and having final movement substantially that of the pivoted insulator, and a hood adaptedto protect the two contact devices when in connected position.

8. In a disconnecting switch, a pair of insulated terminals, a switchcontact carried by one ofthe terminals, a movable insulator, means for moving the insulator, a currentcarrying arm supported by the insulator at one point, a link pivoted tothe current carrying arm at one end and at its other end pivoted with respect to the second terminal,

a flexible current-carrying connection from the current-carrying arm to the secondv terminal, a contact device carried by the arm,

adapted to cooperate with the first named contact device and having final movement substantially the same as that of the movable insulator, and a hood carried by the currentcarryin arm and adapted to protect the con nections when made.

. 9. In a disconnecting switch, a pair of insulated terminals, a swltchcontact carried by one ofthe terminals, a movable insulator', means for moving the insulator, a current-carrying arm pivoted with respect to the insulatorat one point, a link pivotedto the current-carrying arm at one end and at its otherend pivoted with respect to the seeend terminal, a flexible current-carrying connection'il'rom the current-carrying arm to the same, a stationary insulator having a stud contact adapted to be engaged by the saidjaw contact, a third stationary insulator having aline terminal and a collapsible linkage connected to the hood and to said latter insulator to control the angular posi- -tion or said hood and the jaw contact in the same to protect the jaw contact from the weather forall positions of the rocking insulator.

11. Incon'ibination, a frame, a rocking insulator mounted on said frame, a sleet hood pivoted directly on top of the insulator, a switch contact mounted in and pivoted with the hood, a line terminal member, an insulator connected at one end to said base and supporting said terminal'member, another insulator connected :at one end to said base and supporting on its opposite end a switch 7 reverse contact adaptedto cooperate with the contact in said. hood, and linkage between the sleet hood and the aforesaid line tern'linal, said linkage including a flexible conductor and said linkage controlling the regular position of said hood and contact to hold said hood in position to protect the contact thereand at the other end to the stationary pivot for controlling the position 01'? the hood to protect the contained contactfrom the weather.

18. In combination, a rocking insulator, a sleet hood pivoted directly to the upper end thereof, a jaw Contact mounted on the in side of the hood and movable with the same, a stationary insulator having a stud contact adapted to be engaged by the said jaw contact, a third stationaryinsulator having a line terminal and a collapsible linkage connected to the hood and to said latter insulater to control the angular position of said hood and the jaw contact in the same to protect the jaw contact from the weather for all positions oi. the rocking insulator,

1a. In combination, a -frame, a rocking insulator mounted on said frame, a sleet hood pivoted directly on top of the insulator, a switch contact mounted in and pivoted with the hood, a line terminal member, an insulator connected at one end. to said base and supporting said terminal member, another insulator connected at one end to said base, a switch contact supported. 011 the opposite end of said last named insulator and adapted to co-operate with the contact in said hood, and linkage between the sleet hood and the aforesaid line terminal, said linkage including a flexible conductor and said linkage controlling the regular position of said hood and contact to hold said hood. in position to protectthe Contact therein from the weather for all positions of the rocking insulator.

15. In an electric switch, a switch contact, a flexible arm carrying the contact, an openended hood rigid with and housing the con tact, and means flexing the arm to cause the open end of the hood to he presented. downward in open circuit position 01? the contari'i.

16. In an electric switch, a sectional contact arm, a contact mounted at the free end of a section of said arm, a hood housing said contact, and a member jointed to said section to flex the latter downward. in open circuit position.

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